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Cousins Of Bullied Teen Encourage ‘Kindness For Grace’ On What Would Have Been Her 17th Birthday

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — October is National Bullying Awareness Month. It’s also the month Grace McComas would have turned 17.

The Howard County teen took her own life after relentless cyberbullying.

Mary Bubala reports her cousins are marking her birthday by inviting all of us to be kind online.

Easter Sunday 2012–Grace McComas ended her life after nearly a year of cyberbullying. Her cousins, Katie, Haley, Michaela, Ellie and Carolina McComas–all students at Notre Dame Prep in Towson–turned their sorrow into action.

“This day is called Kindness for Grace. And we are hoping the Internet is super positive today and that everyone sends awesome messages to each other,” said Haley McComas, cousin.

Kindness for Grace started on her birthday last year. More than 10,000 people sent out positive texts, posts, pictures and tweets.

“Our intention was to honor our cousin and her memory. She was always a kind, loving person so we really wanted to spread her spirit out to anyone that might have also experienced or is still experiencing cyberbullying, and we wanted to use her love and her memory to promote kindness online,” said Michaela McComas.

Grace McComas’ death impacted so many across Maryland and led to a new law that just took effect with fines or prison time for cyberbullying.

The Ravens’ Ray Rice helped pass Grace’s Law. The running back is supporting Kindness for Grace Day and he designed a T-shirt for the campaign called “Be Good to Each Other.”

Grace’s cousins are passing out ribbons in her favorite color: blue. All of their efforts focusing on words that heal, not harm: Kindness for Grace.

“No matter where you are, you can help spread kindness,” said Haley McComas.

Kindness for Grace is spreading across the nation. You can join the campaign on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter #BlueforGrace.